PUBLIC NOTICE Page 1 of 2 Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-969 May 26, 2010 Enforcement Advisory No. 2010-03 WIRELESS MICROPHONES Manufacture, Importation, Sale, and Lease of 700 MHz Wireless Microphones Is Prohibited; Consumer Alert Required for All Other Wireless Microphones At the Point of Sale or Lease In order to prevent harmful interference to public safety-related communications and wireless consumer services, the FCC now prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, lease, offer for sale or lease, or shipment of wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary stations that operate in the 700 MHz Band and are intended for use in the United States. To protect consumers and to help ensure that prohibited equipment is no longer made available in the U.S., the FCC requires that retailers remove from display (including online display) any such prohibited equipment. The FCC has also established disclosure requirements to make certain that buyers of wireless microphone equipment understand the limitations on their use of such equipment. Manufacturers, dealers, distributors, and other entities that sell or lease these devices must display a consumer disclosure at the point of sale or lease1 informing consumers of the conditions that apply to the operation of wireless microphones in the core TV bands.2 In addition, the Consumer Alert must be displayed on the website of the manufacturer (including manufacturers that do not sell wireless microphones directly to the public) and of dealers, distributors, retailers, and anyone else selling or leasing the devices. The following Consumer Alert must be displayed in a clear, conspicuous, and readily legible manner: Most users do not need a license to operate this wireless microphone system. Nevertheless, operating this microphone system without a license is subject to certain restrictions: the system may not cause harmful interference; it must operate at a low power level (not in excess of 50 milliwatts); and it has no protection from interference received from any other device. Purchasers should also be aware that the FCC is currently evaluating use of wireless microphone systems, and these rules are subject to change. For more information, call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC) or visit the FCC’s wireless microphone website at www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones. 1 “Point of sale or lease” is the place where wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary stations are displayed or offered for consumers to purchase or lease. 2 This disclosure requirement does not apply to wireless microphones that are not capable of operating in the core TV bands, i.e., channels 2- 51, excluding channel 37. For example, the disclosure requirement does not apply to wireless microphones that may operate on a licensed basis in the 169-171 MHz band (see 47 C.F.R. § 90.265) or on an unlicensed basis in the 902-928 MHz or the 2.4 GHz bands (see 47 C.F.R. § 15.247). * * * CONSUMER ALERT * * * Most users do not need a license to operate this wireless microphone system. Nevertheless, operating this microphone system without a license is subject to certain restrictions: the system may not cause harmful interference; it must operate at a low power level (not in excess of 50 milliwatts); and it has no protection from interference received from any other device. Purchasers should also be aware that the FCC is currently evaluating use of wireless microphone systems, and these rules are subject to change. For more information, call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC) or visit the FCC’s wireless microphone website at www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones. FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY Page 2 of 2 This advisory emphasizes the importance of complying strictly with the rules and legal requirements set forth above. Violation of these rules may subject the party to severe penalties, including substantial monetary forfeitures.3 Need more information? For additional information regarding compliance and enforcement of the wireless microphone rules, please contact Kathy Berthot of the Enforcement Bureau at (202) 418-7454, or Neal McNeil of the Enforcement Bureau at (202) 418-2408. For general information on the wireless microphone rules, contact the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225- 5322). Media inquiries should be directed to David Fiske, david.fiske@fcc.gov, (202) 418-0513. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). You may also contact the Enforcement Bureau on its TTY line at (202) 418-1148 for further information about this Enforcement Advisory, or the FCC on its TTY line at 1-888-Tell-FCC (1-888-835-5322) for further information about the wireless microphone rules. 3 See 47 U.S.C. §§ 302a, 503. Issued by: Chief, Enforcement Bureau -FCC-